Mission Statement:

Our primary ministry is to go forth and serve the Lord, by serving each other. We bring our faith home to our families, and also to the places where we work and earn our livings. We strive to cultivate peacefulness, to be more approachable, and to become less anxious and bothered. We plant the seeds of faith in all those whom we meet, and we trust that God will produce fruitful results. Our task is to feed and nourish one another, that everyone may have eteranl life with God.

Vision Statement:

We are children of God, and we know that the Good News of Christ's salvation is the only hope for humanity and the world. Our community is small in population and is geographically remote, with a local economy based largly on agriculture, mining, and tourism. Because of our relatively isolated living conditions here, we must be strongly aware that Christ is making Himself visible to everyone in our Challis area through us.

History:

The first Mass was celebrated in Challis October 12, 1882 by Archbishop Charles Seghers of Portland, Oregon. This had been Archbishop Seghers second visitation of Southern Idaho.

The first trip, July 17, 1879 was as "rugged a journey as one could imagine, surpassed in privation and extreme exhustion on by Lewis abd Clark", according to a local hostorian. First by boat, then by horseback and stage and some of the last miles into Idaho by train. At one point he traveled 104 miles on horseback. His route took him to Salmon City, where he baptized on October 4th and through Challis baptizing on October 12th.

During the 1880"s, Father Louise Verhaag and Father Emanuel Nattini made missionary excursions throughout the vast expanse of the Idaho Territory, with Challis, Loon Creek, and the Sullivan Hot Springs among those they visited. No hardship hindered Father Nattini in his incessant search for souls.

When Bishop Alphonce J. Glorieux took possession of the Vicariate he had but two priests to assist him as he came into Boise on the Feast of the Sacred Heart JUne 12, 1885. Shortly after in July and August of 1885, Bishop Glorieux began a tour of the Missions with Father Nattini who was at the Wood Rover District. They went to the Custer and Lemhi mining country; Pocatello and Montpelier in the Southeast corner of the Territory; and Eagle Rock (Idaho Falls).